2014 NFL Season – Page 10

Week 6 Preview

October 12, 2014October 24, 2014 by anthonywootton78, posted in 2014 NFL Season, Fantasy

On paper this weekend has the makings of a big score for my fantasy team. I come into Sunday full of confidence thanks to J.J. Watt’s performance in Thursday night’s game against The Colts. Just how good is Watt right now? He’s consistently dominant in every game. His 45yd touchdown from a fumble return was his 3rd TD this season. He’s scored more touchdowns than Frank Gore, A.J. Green and Megatron so far, not bad for a DE. The man is a machine and he’s sent me into Sunday with 36.50 points.

These could be famous last words, but I’m expecting Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates to clock up similar figures at Oakland. I’ve probably jinxed it and Tony Sparano will lead The Raiders to victory against their AFC West rivals in his first game in charge of the troubled side.

Randall Cobb stays in my receiving corps because I can’t see Miami’s secondary being able to stop the in-form Rodgers and a Packers offense that appears to be getting better and better each week.

My concern this week is with my running backs. Chris Johnson and his Jets host Peyton and co. I don’t have much faith on Denver’s ability to stop the run, but CJ2K’s points tally will depend on how many carries he’ll get behind Chris Ivory. Meanwhile, I’m starting LaGarrette Blount in place of Jamaal Charles whilst The Chiefs sit out this week on a bye. The Steelers travel to their division rivals, Cleveland. The Browns have become gritty and they’ve managed to find a way to win with some impressive victories along the way.

So, will I go into Monday night’s game sitting comfortably? Vernon Davis looks like he’s going to start after missing Week 5 with a back injury. The 49ers travel to a Rams side that has looked pretty shoddy this year. The St Louis D has been their strength in recent years but they’ve been disappointing this season, which is why I’m starting VD and Stevie Johnson in what should be a rout for Kaepernick and company.

Tactical genius? Let’s see if I make it to 4&2 on Tuesday.

Early Season Report Card

October 9, 2014October 24, 2014 by anthonywootton78, posted in 2014 NFL Season

We’re more than a third of the way through the season and there has been a few shocks and surprises in the league. So, we at 5thDownUK have decided to dish out an early season report card to the top three achievers and under achievers in the two conferences.

The NFC

Boys done good

DeMarco Murray – the Cowboys Running Back has been the driving force behind Dallas’s 4&1 start. He’s rushed for 552 yards and scored 4 touchdowns along the way. Receiving has been a strength this season with 99 yards so far. He’s been a revelation and UK fans are excited about seeing him pounding the Wembley turf. His fitness is questionable. There are still doubts as to whether he can sustain the full 16 week schedule, possibly more. His three fumbles have been an issue; his first one proving costly in that opening day defeat to San Francisco.

A- If Murray can maintain this form until December he’ll be running for an A* season.

Russell Wilson – this young signal-caller is heading for a bumper pay rise in the spring. There’s one word for Wilson, outstanding. Was last season a fluke? No chance. Monday night’s game was one of the stand-out performances of the season so far. This modern day QB has rushed for 180 yards and thrown 661 yards, 6 TDs and just 1 interception. The biggest uncertainty around him is in his arm. He’s thrown half the distance Luck, Rivers and Brees have. He’s looking calmer inside the pocket though.

A Almost a flawless season to date. Acid tests are to come for Wilson and his O-line.

Aaron Rodgers – The Packers got off to a sticky start, but the full blame can’t be given to the Number 12. Ahead of their Week 4 game at The Bears Rodgers called for calm and assured fans that everything was going to be okay. He didn’t break his promise as he threw for 302 yards and 4 touchdowns. He picked The Bears apart. This guy is calmness personified. His passing was down in Week 5 but he still threw 3 touchdowns in beating The Vikings and he’s helped Green Bay take control of the NFC North.

A- Rodgers has still got some work to do to get back to his vintage best, but he’s proven yet again that he’s amongst the Top 3 signal-callers in the league. He’s looked average at times this season, but if his offense can stay healthy then his numbers are only going to get better.

Must Try Harder

Drew Brees – you can include the whole Saints team in this. They were picked by many to win the Super Bowl this year, but Brees has struggled to stretch the field. He’s thrown for 1241 yards and 8 touchdowns. It’s the 5 interceptions that have been concerning.

C+ The comeback he led against The Buccs on Sunday showed signs that Drew is getting back to his best. Are there trust issues with his Offensive Line? If he can bring his commanding presence back to the field then he and The Saints will be on course for another play-off push. Their schedule is quite a daunting one, so he needs to start stepping up.

LeSean McCoy – has anyone seen him? The Eagles are 4&1, but he’s only averaged 2.9 yards per carry. Who’s to blame? The O-line? There’s no disputing this guy’s talent, but he needs to start turning up. Philly’s wins are mainly thanks to touchdowns from their D and special teams. If they’re going to make a play-off charge then McCoy and Foles need to make some plays. The 49ers shut him down in Week 4 and The Eagles have got even stiffer opposition coming their way between now and late December.

E He’s failing and needs to start living up to his potential. The only reason he’s not been given an F is because his Offensive Line is so weak.

Detroit’s kicking department – how can you defend a kicking record of 1 of 9 from more than 30 yards? They play in a dome as well! Detroit lost to The Bills because of their ineptness at field goal kicking. What would their record be if they’d have managed to kick points? It might be The Lions in the NFC North hot seat. If you’re going to win championships you’ve got to grab points when the opportunities present themself.

F They’ve fired their kickers and added some quality to their corps. Matt Prater is a Pro Bowler, let’s hope he can clean up his off-field issues and reverse this appalling trend for Detroit.

AFC

San Diego Chargers A few years ago, people had written off Philip Rivers as a declining talent, whom the Chargers may look to trade off the roster. A bounceback year last year saw Rivers and the Bolts offence toughen up, with a gruelling ground game and they even found an electric wide receiver in Keenan Allen.. Rivers now looks like a man unleashed, and he hasn’t allowed injuries to Mathews, Woodhead and Allen slow the Chargers down. With the evergreen Antonio Gates rolling back the years, the Bolts are looking good atop the AFC West. Two showdowns with Peyton Manning are likely to determine their future, but with a win over the defending champions already in their back pocket, keep an eye on these frisky Chargers. A

Steve Smith Snr The best trash talker in the game said he would steal the Panthers’ lunch. Not only did he steal their lunch, he has stolen the lunch of nearly every side the shaky looking Ravens have faced. The Ravens picked up Smith following a controversial separation from the Panthers, but during a drama-filled off season for the Ravens, Smith has seemingly rolled 10 years off the clock, and is looking for a career year in all categories. B+

Oakland Raiders Fans

The undisputed champions of the pre-match Fan rally at Wembley Stadium – the Black Hole posed, growled and grimaced to the delight of the British public. The air was full of excitement, anticipation, and rap and rock music. The Raiders fans put on a show, and they seemingly outnumbered Dolphins fans 10-1. Its a shame that rumours persist of a potential move back to LA. A+

Oakland Raiders If the Raiders had a tenth of the spirit of their fans they might have put up a better show than what was out on the pitch. The Dolphins recievers were left so open they could’ve caught the ball while supping a cup of tea. The performance was the final embarrassment that nailed the coffin on Denis Allen’s Raiders career – I’d love to see the Raiders back in London, but hopefully with a more competitive side. F

Andrew Luck Luck continues his ascendency towards the “elite quarterback” label with weekly show reels of incredible plays and breathtaking comebacks. While the Colts roster looks unimpressive, his form so far this season means he’s been pretty unplayable – whether he can lift this side to a championship is yet to be seen, but this kid is doing all he can to re-ignite the house that Peyton build. A

New England Patriots Brady and Co. stepped up big time to answer the critism levelled at them following the embarrassing defeat against The Chiefs, but they are still very much in the “must do better” category. The offensive roster looks a bit of a mess, with Julian Edelman and a banged up Gronkowski the only real danger threats – Bradon LeFell was an uninspiring acquisition and last year’s targets Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins have been respectively ignored and released. Danny Amendola is predectibly cashing his cheques whilst resting on the physio’s table. Add to this, they trade Bradys O-Line rock Logan Mankins in a cost-cutting measure, bringing in a raw, but promising Tim Wright.

Week 5

October 7, 2014October 24, 2014 by anthonywootton78, posted in 2014 NFL Season, Fantasy

I won in Week 5. It took me to 3&2 for the season. My team won by the skin of their teeth. I scored a meagre 88.16 points and took the victory. I should be elated.

My condolences go out to the Miniapplelis Souperbowlers. They went into Monday Night Football knowing 8.27 points from their Seahawks D and Percy Harvin would win the game for them. Cue my double-take when I raised my bleary head this morning. They clocked up 7.4 points. I won by 0.86! How did that happen? It clearly doesn’t matter how you win, so long as you win.

I came into Week 5 off the back of my biggest win ever in Fantasy Football. A lot of planning went into this week’s victory, so I guess I should be feeling good about myself. Pre kick-off I talked about dropping Jamaal Charles and playing Arizona’s John Brown ahead of Sammy Watkins. Those decisions didn’t sit right for me so I reinstated them to the starting line-up. Charles didn’t quite rush as much as he did against the Patriots in Week 4 but he did have his longest carry of the season. Sammy, on the other hand, was the go to guy for Orton on his first start. These are decisions that won me the game.

A win is a win. I’m sure the Saints are saying that this week. The Bills celebrated like they’d won the Super Bowl! This small margin victory makes my season a winning one and puts me on the front foot as I aim for a play-off spot. I’ll take whatever I can.

Week 5 Preview

October 5, 2014October 24, 2014 by anthonywootton78, posted in 2014 NFL Season, Fantasy

With less than ten hours until kick-off we can only guess what will happen once that ball is launched deep into opposition territory. We’ve spent the week working on our rosters. Last week’s flops have been benched, but brought back to the fore as soon as we realised who they’re up against.

It’s just a guessing game. It’s not even a forecast! We can’t see what’s going to happen. We can see trends, for example we can pretty much say the Jags will go 0&5 against the Steelers. Or can we? Weren’t the Steelers dead certs to win last week?

Jamaal Charles had a field day against New England on Monday night. I’ve chosen to bench him today. I can’t see him breaking through that San Francisco defensive line. Look at what they did to LeSean McCoy last week. Yes, the 49ers were up against a third string offensive line, but is Chiefs’ O-line any better?

Enter LeGarrette Blount. Compared to my first round draft pick he had a quiet week last week, like I predicted he would. This week he’s coming up against Jacksonville and I fully expect him to be handed some lanes to run down.

My receiver corps is the battle of the rookies. Do I start Sammy Watkins now that he’s got Kyle Orton throwing to him? The wide out has already come out in praise of his new signal-caller. Meanwhile, John Brown seems to be the leading target in Arizona. The Cardinals look like the real deal and their trip to Mile High is an acid test for them. I can see Brown & co coming out on top and that’s why I’m starting him.

Doubt will almost definitely settled in between now and kick-off. I’ll tinker right up until 6pm/9:25pm. I’m sure to rue a decision, but we can’t see everything coming.

Poppies To Be Worn By Cowboys & Jags

October 1, 2014October 24, 2014 by anthonywootton78, posted in 2014 NFL Season, NFL London

Week 10’s Wembley showdown between the Cowboys and Jags will mark Remembrance Sunday by displaying the iconic Poppy logo on their uniforms and helmets.

The NFL has teamed up with the Royal British Legion for the showpiece on November 9. The Poppy will also be displayed on the Wembley pitch. Fund-raising for the Poppy Appeal will take place at the game, which will form part of the NFL’s annual Salute to Service programme.

The organisation does a fine job of supporting their armed services. Last October’s game between the 49ers and Jags honoured troops from both sides of the Atlantic. There wasn’t a dry eye amongst the 80,000 fans under the arch when families were re-united on the pitch.

Alistair Kirkwood, Managing Director of NFL UK, said: “We are very pleased to be able to mark Remembrance Sunday with this partnership. The NFL has a tremendous respect and admiration for the service given by the military, both in the US and UK, and we are honoured to be able support the Poppy Appeal through fund-raising and integration of the Poppy into our game at Wembley.”

Charles Byrne, Director of Fundraising for The Royal British Legion, said: “For the Poppy Appeal to be recognised by the NFL shows that the respect and recognition for our Armed Forces extends far beyond here in the UK. We are proud to be working in partnership with the NFL at their Remembrance Sunday fixture and I look forward to seeing the Poppy worn on NFL uniforms for the first time.”

At the end of the match 80,000 poppies will be dropped into the Wembley stands and the uniforms worn by the players will be auctioned via www.nflauction.nfl.com , with proceeds going to the Poppy Appeal.

Week 4

September 30, 2014October 24, 2014 by anthonywootton78, posted in 2014 NFL Season, Fantasy

Week 4 is in the books and what a week it was. Oakland came to London but failed to turn up at Wembley. Eli Manning learnt how to throw again and Philly’s unbeaten record came to an end after their offense failed to score.

It was also quite a week for my fantasy team. In the run-up to Sunday’s games I was chopping and changing between my two QBs. It was Rivers, then Brees, Rivers again, then Brees…I chose the league’s in-form passer in Southern California and he delivered. There was only six points between them, but I was on my way to the biggest points tally I’ve ever scored in Fantasy Football. 140.88 points would take some beating most on any given Sunday.

It was nice for Jamaal Charles to turn up, too. As soon as he was cleared to play I knew he would have a field day running against a weak Patriots D that’s struggling this season against the rush. The Chiefs made light work of Brady & Co. Now 2&2, should we sit up and take notice of them as AFC contenders? They’ve got quite a division to get out of, but let’s not forget they gave the Broncos a game in Week 2.

Randall Cobb’s season-high seven catches for 113 yards and two TDs also helped ensure that I didn’t rue my failure to waiver a replacement D for my Broncos defense who were on a bye.

The best player in the league right now must be J.J. Watt. He’s certainly paying back the $100m contract he was awarded this summer. He’s almost single-handedly carrying the Texans this season and his importance to the team was highlighted in the seven tackles, nine quarterback hits and the 80 yard TD he scored from an interception. 26.50 points from a defensive player is not to be sniffed at.

So, we move on to the next week with so many more possibilities. Hands up, who picked the Buccs to win at Heinz Field? Did you really expect the Vikings and Chiefs to win so handsomely? It’s a funny old game and one we just can’t get enough of.

The NFL Raided London

September 29, 2014October 24, 2014 by anthonywootton78, posted in 2014 NFL Season, NFL London

The UK became a Raider Nation this weekend as the first International Series of 2014 got off to a fine start

Oakland flew into London 0&3 but were buoyed by a promising performance at New England last week. Raiders fans had hoped to see their team clock up its first win of the season and things looked good as Derek Carr oversaw an impressive first drive that ended with a three yard touchdown to Brian Leonhardt.

The Dolphins responded to that early blow by kicking a field goal and then the points kept coming. Ryan Tannehill found his groove and threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns. Not bad for a QB whose coach refused to comment on whether he was going to start him this week. By the end of the third quarter Miami saw themselves 38-7 up.

The rookie Derek Carr threw for 146 yards, 1 TD and an interception before leaving the field in the third quarter with an injury. Matt McGloin took over and had a moment to forget on his second play as he watched the snap shoot past and picked up by Miami’s cornerback, Cortland Finnegan, who ran in the TD.

The Raiders will fly back to California on Monday morning with question marks hanging over head coach Dennis Allen’s future.

Although The Black Hole will be disappointed with their team’s performance under the arch, 83,000 football fans will have left Wembley satisfied with the event they experienced. NFL UK put on another festival that will further enhance this fine sport on our shores.

There’s only four weeks until two of the NFC’s biggest shooters come to town with Megatron and Julio Jones whetting our appetites.

Week 4

September 27, 2014October 24, 2014 by anthonywootton78, posted in 2014 NFL Season, Fantasy

It’s Week 4 and it’s hard to believe that, come Tuesday, we’ll be a quarter of the way through the season. But, glass half full, we’ve got so many games to look forward to. The season’s only just warming up and it’s Wembley week. By the way, 5thDownUK will be there and we’ll bring you photos from the event.

Back to the serious business of fantasy football. The pressure’s on me to halt a two-game losing streak that’s halted my season. I’ve got players coming back from injuries and guys going out on a bye. Oh to be a coach. Who do I bench? Who gets the nod?

On Tuesday I was starting Brees, by Wednesday it was Rivers. The Chargers QB was benched again by Thursday, but he’s now back in the line-up. There’s no going back. I expect him to be one of the standout performers in Week 4 against the Jags. But Brees is up against the Cowboys D. Rivers has home field advantage while Drew and his Saints don’t travel well. Rivers it is then.

Vernon Davis is back and Jamaal Charles has looked good in practice. The Chiefs rusher has failed to impress me so far this year and I fancy LeGarrette Blount to clock up a few yards against a weak Buccaneers team. I think the Steelers man gets the nod alongside Chris Johnson.

At least the bye week has picked my wideouts for me, although I’m not filled with confidence going into the weekend.

Apparently lightning doesn’t strike twice, but the last two weeks I’ve seen guys on my bench scoring more points than my starters. It’s no surprise that I’m on this streak. The decisions I make in the next 20hrs or so might well define my season. And these coaches think they’ve got it tough!

Why Antonio Smith Will Be Watching Corrie

September 25, 2014October 24, 2014 by anthonywootton78, posted in 2014 NFL Season, NFL London

Whenever you visit a different country it’s only natural that you take in some of their culture. That’s one of the reasons we enjoy travelling. The Oakland Raiders are no exception. After all, they’ve got a Brit in their ranks.

“Menelik ain’t shown me no crumpets and tea yet”

So has Menelik Watson introduced his team mates to a bit of Coronation Street? If ever he wanted to show off a bit of the city where he grew up then this is the week to do it; with a spot of Corrie.

The veteran Defensive End Antonio Smith was puzzled, “what’s that?” I told him it’s a soap and that Menelik visited the set this summer. “Does it have beautiful women in it?” Now to some people Rita is beautiful, so I didn’t lie…”in that case I’ll watch it then!”

What about Khalil Mack? “No man, Menelik ain’t shown me around yet. He ain’t taken for no crumpets and tea or nothing, but I gotta get real quick with him after this”.

The Raiders seem well adjusted to life in the UK and everyone I spoke to inn the team had nothing but praise for the welcome they’ve received since they arrived on Monday. They’ll want to repay that support with victory over the Miami Dolphins at Wembley this Sunday.

The Demon of Jet Lag

September 25, 2014October 24, 2014 by anthonywootton78, posted in 2014 NFL Season, NFL London

“Monday was a tough day to stay awake”

The Raiders flew out of Boston on Sunday night with a positive mood about the camp. The 0&3 team came within a score of beating the mighty Patriots in their own backyard. If their confidence needed an extra boost then they will find it in their sleep, or lack of it.

Jet lag seems to have been a real issue with the Silver & Black at the start of their UK visit. When asked about it, their first round draft pick, Khalil Mack quickly snapped, “Monday, oh my God! It was a tough day. To stay up throughout the whole day and then you go to be at 8pm and you can’t sleep.” So how bad was it? “It’s ok now, I’m starting to adjust…we’re all adjusting now”.

It’s taken them three days to sync their body clocks to GMT. Miami don’t fly out until Friday. Friday is normally a rest day for the Dolphins, but will they be ready in time? Saturday’s social commitments will surely take its toll on them. Compound that with the off field shenanigans this week and it doesn’t look promising for Joe Philbin and his team.

“It’s been a nice experience but I’m still suffering”

Veteran Defensive End, Antonio Smith, is still adjusting to the five hour leap forward in time (from New England), “I’m still suffering. I have not defeated the demon of jet lag yet.” When asked if that would play to Oakland’s advantage, the former Cardinals and Texans man said, “I hope it does because if they’re going to feel like I’ve been feeling with hardly any sleep it’s going to be a hard one for them to play”.

The former Super Bowl MVP, Terrell Davis, has been impressed with the preparation the Raiders have put into this week’s game. “They’ve given themselves plenty of time to acclimatise. They’ve done the right things (by coming over early) and I think they stand a good chance of winning”. The former Broncos RB did acknowledge that Miami have been here before and, therefore, know what to expect. But he thinks they’ll find it hard to adjust in time.

What we want is a great game. The Black Hole seem ready for it.